Textile cutting machine



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' TEXTILE CUTTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 1; 1940 w 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 I I 1 'l 1 69 4 lea Patented Oct. 14, 19 41 UNITED STATES lATENTOFFlCE' I mmefiZmem-e I Frederick D. Murdock, lawtuckct, R. I.

Application August 1, 1940, Serial'No. 349,167 16 Claims. (ores-'1) This invention relates to improvements in textile cutting machines. More especially it has to do .with machines for cutting the floats of the cross straps made in the course of weaving ladder webbing for Venetian blinds.

Ladder webbing comprises, in its finished form, apair of main tapes and a number of ladders which extend between the main tapes and upon which the slats of the Venetian blind are individually supported. These ladders are portions of cross straps formed simultaneously with the main tapes as the webbing is woven by a loom, preferably of the multiple cross-shot type. Each main tape is continuously formed by the interweaving of numerous warp threads and a weft or filling thread, and between these main tapes two cross straps are usually formed, each having its own group of warp threads and its own filling thread. The ladders are portions of a cross strap made by interweaving its warp threads and its filling thread. At precisely determined intervals the usual travel of the strap filling thread back and forth across the strap warp threads is interrupted and the warp threads of the strap are bound to one or the other of the main tapes by the weft thread of the main tape. The areawhereat such attachment of a cross strap to a main tape occurs, is commonly called the binding-in or stitching area. One such area occurs at the beginning of a ladder on one main tape and another stitching area is at the end of the ladder on the other main tape. Thus whenthe tapes are eventually moved apart to receive a slat, the ladder is held securely between the main tapes at the stitching areas.

When a stitching area on one main tape has been completed at the end of a ladder, the warp threads of the strap are then transfered to the other main tape and a new stitching area is formed at the beginning of the lext ladder.-

the webbing in order not to cut or snip the ladder near the opposite edge. I am aware that cutting means capable of being automatically presented to the floats in such a manner as to sever them with certainty and speed and without injury to other portions of the webbing.

Another object is the provision of control means to bring about the operation of the cutting elements in timed relation with the longitudinal movement of the floats.

A further object of the invention is the provision of separately" driven cutting means so controlled as to be brought into cutting operation substantially simultaneously for severing floats located near opposite edges of the webbing and spaced from each other longitudinally of the web- These portions of the warp threads extending between one main tape and the other is called the Every fioat must be cut in order that the main tapes can be moved apart sufficiently to receive a slat. For many years it was the practice, and still is, in many factories, to cut or ship each float by a pair of hand scissors. Since the floats formed in connection with one cross strap near one edge of the webbing do not come in alignment with the floats formed in connection with the other cross strap near the other edge of the webbing (indeed, the fioat of one cross strap is substantially opposite the center of a ladder of the other cross strap) a hand cutter must exercise great care in cutting a float near one edge of bing.

A further object is the provision of feeler mechanism for initiating the operation of the cutting means coincident with the arrival of the floats at appropriate'positions for severance during the movement of the webbing longitudinally of the machine.

A further object is the provision of improved.- ,means for causing the main tapes to be spread apart in a way to properly present the floats to the cutting means.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for applying pressure to the webbing at points adjacent to the cutting means to insure certainty of operation of the latter by preventing distortion or wrinkling of one or the other of the main tapes adjacent the cutting means. v

The best mode in which I have contemplated applying the principles of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings but these are to be taken as merely illustrative because it is intended that the patent shall cover by suitable expression in the appended claims whatever features of patentable novelty are herein disclosed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cutting machine embodying my improvements and having the preferred arrangement of the mounting and driving means for the cutters;

Fi e 2 is a side view of a piece of ladder webbing it comes from the loom, the main tapes being shown spread apart to disclose more clearly the floats between them;

Figure 3 is a vertical section across the webbing taken substantially along the line 3-4 of Figure 8, showing details of the machine, including a cutter about to sever a float;

Figure 4 is a view, similar to Figure 3, but showing the relation of the parts as the float is severed;

Figure 5 is an elevation, partly in section, showing a guide pulley for guiding the webbing to a supporting track and also showing means for imposing a tension on the webbing, this view being taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Figure 8;

Figure 6 is a side view of the webbing as in use, with the main tapes hanging vertically and the ladders extended horizontally and supporting the slats of a Venetian blind;

- Figure 7 is a sectional elevation through the mechanism for drawing the webbing along the track, being taken substantially along the line of Figure '8; v

Figure 8 is a plan view of the machine of Figure 1, the supply reel and delivery container being omitted;

Figure 9 is an elevation, partly in section, taken substantially along line 9-9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is an elevation, partly in section, taken substantially along the line Iii-Ill of Figure 8;

Figure 11 is another elevation, partly in section,

taken substantially along the line ll-ll of Figure 8; Figure 12 is a side view, similar to Figure 1, but showing a cutting machine embodying a modified arrangement of the mounting and driving means for the cutters;

Figure 13 is a plan view of the machine of Figure 12, the supply reel and container being omitted; I

Figure 14 is an elevation, partly in section, taken substantially along the line I4-i4 of'Figure l3;

Figure 15 is another elevation, partly in section,

taken substantially along the line iB-ii of Figure 13; and

Figure 16 is an elevation, partly in section, taken substantially along the line 16-" of Figure 13.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figures 1 to 11, wherein is disclosed the preferred embodiment of my invention, the ladder webbing after its formation on the loom is wound into a roll it and placed on a reel l2 carried by a bracket l4 secured to the frame it of my improved cutting machine. The webbing W is drawn from the roll around-a guide pulley ll, across the top of the machine where its floats are cut, and thence passes to a delivery container 20.

The webbing as it leaves the loom comprises two main tapes 22 and 24 and usually two cross straps 26 and 28, all formed simultaneously by the loom. As seen in' Figures 2, 3 and 4 the main tapes are woven in continuous parallel strips and between them are the cross straps which ultimately provide the ladders 30 and 32 upon which the slats 34 rest as shown in Figure 6. The ladder may be composed of warp threads only, or, as shown herein, may have a filling thread interwoven with such warp threads. At its ends each ladder is attached to a main tape at what is commonly called the stitching area.

Starting at the left of Figure 2, the webbing is shown cut at a point A where both main tapes 22 and 24 and both cross straps 2| and 2| were separately but simultaneously woven. At point B the filling thread of the cross strap 28 ceases its travel across the warp threads of the strap and the latter are then bound to the lower main tape 24 by the weft thread of that tape. This bindingin of the strap warp threads continues generally to point 0, thus forming a stitching area, although within this area the strap warp threads may at one or more intervals be released from engagement with the .weft thread of the main tape and be again interwoven with the filling thread of the strap, as originally disclosed by one Rollason in his British Patent No. 4,972 of 1888. This interweaving of the strap filling thread with the strap warp threads within a stitching area not only serves to more securely bind the strap to the main tape (in that it provides small interwoven portions of cross strap which cannot be pulled through the main tape) but it also avoids having a long floating portion of the strap filling thread from the beginning of one stitching area to the end of the next stitching area.

At the end of the stitching area just described, the strap warp threads are shifted rather abruptly from the lower main tape 24, at point C, to the upper main tape 22 at point D. These transfer portions of the strap warp threads-between the points C and D are known as a float"; and the suggestion of making them exceedingly short was fully disclosed in an article published by Edwin J Gibbons in the January, 1933, issue of Textile World. From point D to point E another stitching area is formed wherein the strap warp threads are bound to the upper main tape 22 with interweavings of the filling thread and warp threads of the strap as heretofore described. At the end of this second stitching area, at point E, the ladder begins and extends between the main tapes to point F where another stitching area is begun, this time binding the strap warp threads to the lower main tape again.

While one cross strap 28 is thus being formed with its floats as and ladders so. and bound at intervals to the main tapes, another such cross strap 28 is likewise being formed with its floats 28' and ladders 32. Thus in the ladder webbing as it comes from the loom, where the float of one cross strap occurs near one edge of the main tapes, the filling and warp threads of the other cross strap near the other edge of the main tapes are interwoven to form a ladder. This relation is clearly shown in Figure 3.

The webbing is drawn from the roll I by means located at the delivery end of the machine and herein shown in Figure 7. This means comprises standards 40 and 42 in which is journaled a lower drawing roll 44 whose shaft 48 carries a sprocket 48, which is connected by a chain 50 with another sprocket located behind the speed reduction device 52 as seen in Figure 1. Asso'. ciated with this device'is a motor 54 which drives the lower drawing roll 44 continuously. Another roll 58 (see Figure 7 again) is carried by the standards 40 and 42, its shaft 58 being journaled in bearing blocks 30 yieldingiy urged downward by springs 62 interposed between the said bearing blocks and another block 64 which is held in its depressed position shown by a bell-crank lever 68. The handle 68 of this lever can be turned vertically upward to relieve the force of the smarts springs 82 to readily permit the webbing to be threaded between the feed rolls, or to stop the progress of the webbing if this should become necessary, With handle 88 down as shown, the drawing rolls grip the webbing with sufllcient tightness to insure its continuous movement across the top of the machine.

From the guide pulley II the webbing passes horizontally to a supporting track 88 which ex-v tends clear across the machine and preferably has a fluted'top surface best seen in Figures 3 and 4. This track has upstanding side rails 88a which are interrupted at intervals along the path of travel of the webbing. Near the guide pulley I8 isa resilient presser foot 10 which is secured at one end to a plate 12 extending across the track and webbing (see Figure 5).

a This plate is pivotally mounted as at 14 on one side of the webbing and its other end is engaged by latch means I8 to hold it down. This engagement may be broken by a handle I8 and the .plate 12 can then be lifted while the webbing is being threaded initially into the machine. A screw 80, which is threaded through plate I2 and engages the pressure foot I0 between its ends,

apart so that the warp threads which constitute the float, will stand substantially vertical in a somewhat taut condition.

Each spreader has a solid body portion bolted at 'I I2a and H41: to the tracksupport 88 along which the webbing is drawn, and each spreader also has a U-shaped portion (I I2b, II4b) which opens toward the webbing and is so disposed as to bring the lower lip ofthe U-portion between the two main tapes close by their edge. As the upper main tape engages this lower lip, it is raised up and held separated from the lower .main tape to the extent permitted by the threads of a float. This is clearly shown in the right half of Figure 3.

While the main tapes are thus separated and the float 88 is taut, a circular rotating cutter H8 is passed between the. main tapes 22 and 24 and severs the threads of the float 38, as seen in Figure 4. The movement of the cutter between the tapes is carefully predetermined and controlled so that it will not enter far enough to cut the ladder 80 at the-other edge of the main tapes. Immediately after cutting the float the cutter is withdrawn from'between the main tapes so that the ladder which follows the cut machine. This rod is likewise pivotally mounted on brackets 94 and at the left end of the .ma-

chine is bent so as to extend forward and provide a handle 98 by means of which the rod may be rotated in its brackets to lift the arms 80 and rollers 88 away from the webbing, there being collars 98 secured to the rod with an arm I00 extending from one of them to engage the bracket arms 90. The pressure exerted by the rollers 88 is augmented by weights I02 carried on bars I04 attached to the bracket arms 88. The latter readily turn about the rod 92 to accommodate webbings of different thicknesses.

As shown in Figures 1, 8 and 9, if the rollers 88 are to be raised for any extended period the bracket arms 90 are individually lifted and swung about the rod 92 until the arms contact the side of the frame as suggested in'Figure 9. To avoid the necessity of lifting each roller separately and swinging it so far about the rod 82 I have shown in Figures 13 and 15 a simple latch attachment which of course might be applied to drops into the depression I08 of the collar and so long as thus engaged prevents the return rotation of the rod 92,. arms 80, and rollers 88'. To release the latch its end IIOa need only be depressed, thus lifting its opposite endfrom the depression I08 and permitting the rod 82 and the rollers 88 to return to pressure applying relation with the webbing.

The intermediate pressure rollers 88 are-positioned close by spreaders H2, H4, respectively provided at each side of the webbing to lift the upper main tape and thereby spread the tapes float may pass by without interference and thus bring the next float into position to be severed.

The mounting and driving means for the cutter I I8 is best seen in Figure 11. A driving motor H8 is suitably mounted on the frame of the machine with its shaft I20 extending vertically upward to a pulley I22. From this an endless belt I24 runs to a hub I28 on which the circular cutter is secured. This hub is rotatable about a shaft I28 mounted on one arm I30 of another hub assembly I32 rotatable about the axis of the motor shaft I20. A suitable ball bearing I34 with associated races is provided to avoid friction and enable the cutter to be swung easily into I and out of its cutting position.

This swinging of the cutter to sever the float is accomplished by electrically actuated means. Another arm I38 of the hub assembly I32 is connected by alink I38 to the armature I40 of a solenoid I42. Upon the latter being energized, its armature is pulled inward causing the hub assembly I22 to rotate in a clockwise direction about the axis of the motor andthereby swing the cutter I I8 between the main tapes to sever the float. After this is accomplished, the energizing circuit through the solenoid I42 is broken, whereupon the armature 'is withdrawn, and the hub member rotated counterclockwise by virtue of a spring I44 attached to the arm I38 and anchored to the frame of the machine. Thus after performing its cutting operation the cutter is immediately withdrawn from between the main tapes.

The energizing of the solenoid is effected by a switch I48 (see Figure 8) which upon being,

closed, completes a circuit from a main source of current through a voltage regulator I48 which controls the voltage of the circuit through the windings of the solenoid I42. By regulating this voltage the speed of movement .of the cutters from inactive to cutting position may be controlled. The switch I48 is controlled by the movement of a lever I50 which is pivoted at I52 near the switch end, and at its other end is provided with a feeler I84. This-has a thin bladelike portion I84a. which normally extends between the two main vtapes (as seen in Figures 3 and 8) in position to be engaged between a main tape and a cross strap where the ladder of the latter leaves the main tape at one .end of a stitching area. When thus engaged the feeler is pushed forward and to one side as the webbing continues to move along and thus the lever I88 is swung to the dotted position indicated to close the switch I48.

It is to be understood that the longitudinal relations of a ladder, the stitching areas, and

the float portion of a strap are very definite and necessary regards the movement of the cutters v in thev direction toward their cutting position because, as evident, from Figures 8 and 4, it is essential that the movement of the cutter be arrested before it can harm the-ladder 88 at the opposite side of the webbing. -It is also desirable to limit its return movement so that its path of travel may be short and its necessary movehence th engagement of'the feelez' as heretofore 10 described can be depended upon to eflect the movement of the cutter at just the proper time to sever the float of the cross strap.

As thus far described, it will be noted that the cutter II8, hereinbefore particularly referred to,

a cutter oscillating agencies. This assembly is substantially identical with that heretofore described in detail and need not again be so described. Its

elements, as fully-seen in Figur 8, are disposed" so that the cutter I58 is locatedon the oppositeside of the webbing from that of the cutter. II8

first described. Its solenoid I58 is also connected with the voltage regulator I48 and consequently both cutters will be swung at the same time to sever floats at opposite edges of the webbing.-

This second cutter assembly, including the second cutter I58.

spreader H4 and its associated pressure roller 88, are so mounted as to be adjustable along the machine in the direction of travel of the webbing. So likewise is the feeler I84 adjustable with respect tolever I50. By means of such adjustments the machine may be readilyaocom- I modated to handle: webbing where the-ladders are of different lengths and the distance between floats is different.

In Figures 12 to 16 there is disclosed a modification wherein the two cutters I58 and IE8 are mounted on diametrically positioned arms I82 and I84.a'nd a single hub member I68, clearly shown in Figure 16. In this arrangement both cutters are driven from a single motor I88 there being a straight belt I18 from its pulley' I12 to the hub I14 of one cutter I80 and a cross belt I18 from this same pulley to the hub I18 of the. other cutter I58. Only one solenoid I88 (see Figure 13) need b provided since its armature I82 can be connected by link I84 to one arm I84 of the hub assembly I88 and thusboth cutters swung together as the hub assembly is oscillated. The operation of this embodiment is similar to that described, the ladder webbing is moved continuously and, as determined by the engagement of the feeler I88 with the webbing, the cutters are swung and sever the floats while the webbing continues its movement.

While I deem it preferable to mount the cutters to swing about separate axes andbe driven by separate motors, it is not essential tosuch an arrangement that separate solenoids be used because inspection of Figure 8 will readily suggest that a single solenoid such as I42 might be so disposed and its armature connected by separate links to both the arm I38 and to the arm I88 and thus alone eflectithe simultaneous movement of both cutters into their respective cutting positions.

I have found-it advisable to rather definitely limit the travel of the cutters. This is indeed ments completed very rapidly. To this end I have arranged stops I88 and I88 which are ad- ;Iustably secured to the frame and have upstanding portions preferably provided with leather pads I82. As probably best seen in-Figure 9, the stop I88 limits the movement of its associated cutter 8 as it moves to cutting position, while stop I88 limits the reverse movement. Similar stops I84. I88 are of course provided for the other While I have notdescribed in minute detail th parts of the machine shown in Figures 12-16, like parts to those described in connection with Figures 1 to 11 can be readily identified. Both machines operate on the webbing while it is moving continuously and this particular feature I deem to be of material advantage.

I claim:

1. A textile cutting machine for cutting the floats of ladder webbing comprising, in combination, means for moving" the webbing contlnuously; means constructed and arranged to sepzarate'the main' tapes of thewebbing; a cutter movable between said separated main tapes; and. means actuated by a cross-strap of the webbingto move said cutter to cut afloat while-the web-1 bing continues its movement. 2. JA textile cutting machine 'forjcutting the floats of ladder webbing comprising, in combination, means for moving the webbing continue ously as a strip; means at .the side of said webbing for 'separ'atingthe main tapes thereof; a

' rotating cutter mounted so as to be" movedbeand means actuated by across strap of the webbing for moving said cutter into float-cutting positlon.

8. A textile cutting machine for cutting the" floats of ladder webbing comprising. in combination, a support, means for drawing the webbingcontinuously along the. support under tension; means at opposite edges of the webbing for separating the main tapes thereof so as to expose a float of each cross strap; and cutting means movable toward the webbing at opposite edges thereof for cutting substantially simultaneously the exposed floats located adiacent to opposite edges of the webbing.

. 4. A textile cutting machine for cutting the floats of ladder webbingcomprising, in combination, a support of a width corresponding substantially with that of the webbing; means for drawing the webbing continuously along the support under tension; a pair of cutters separately mounted at opposite edges of the webbing for movement toward the webbing; and means acting upon the cutter mountings for moving the cutters simultaneously toward the webbing to cut the floats adjacent the said opposite edges.

5. A textile cutting machine for cutting the floats of ladder webbing comprising, in combination, webbing supporting means; means for movment toward and from the webbing; and means means for feeding the webbing continuously along the fixed support; float-cutting means positioned upon opposite sides of the webbing; an oscillating supporting means for moving the float-cutting means into float-cutting positions; and means actuated by the webbing in the course of its continuous movement for oscillating said supporting means.

8. A textile cutting machine for cutting'the floats of ladder webbing comprising, in combination, means for supporting the webbing; means for feeding the webbing continuously along the support; cutting means positioned upon opposite sides of the webbing; and means for moving operable from opposite sides of the support in timed relation with'each other for cutting the floats adjacent the opposite side edges of said webbing.

12. A textile cutting machine for cutting the floats of ladder webbing comprising, in combination, means for supporting a roll of webbing;

means for drawing the webbing from said roll and moving it continuously along a flxed support; means for applying tension to the webbing in its movement along the support; cutting means located upon opposite sides of the support and movable between the main tapes of the web- -bing for cutting the floats adjacent to opposite side edges of'the webbing while the webbing-is moving under tension.

13. A textile cutting machine forcutting the floats of ladder webbing comprising, in combination, a support for the webbing; a rotatable the cutting means into float-cutting positions in timed relation with the movement of the webbing.

9. A textile cutting machine for cutting the floats of ladder webbing comprising, in combination, means for supporting the webbing; means for feeding the webbing continuously along the support as a strip; means at opposite edges 'of the webbing for separating the main tapes there- 'of; rotatable cutting means positioned upon oppositesides of the support; means for rotating the cutting means; and means for moving the cutting means between the separated main tapes into and out of float-cutting positions. I

10. A textile cutting machine forcutting the floats of ladder webbing comprising, in combination, means for supporting the webbing; means cross-head member; cutters carried'by the crosshead member and positioned upon opposite sides of the webbing; means for driving said cutters; and means for oscillating said cross-head member to move said cutters toward and from the webbing.

. 14. A textile cutting machine for cutting thefloats of ladder webbing comprising, in combination, means for supporting the webbing; means for moving the webbing continuously in the direction of its length along said supporting means;

, cutting means located upon opposite sides of said for feeding the webbing continuously along the support; means for separating the adjacent lateral edges of the webbing tapes during their movement along the support; oppositely-posi-' tioned cutting means mounted for movement into float-cutting positions at points adjacent tosaid separating means; and means for moving said cutting means into float-cuttingpositions.

11. A textile cutting machine for cutting the floats of ladder webbing comprising. in combination, means for supporting the webbing; means for feeding the webbing continuously along the support; means for tensioning the webbing in its movement along the support; and means support; means for moving said cutting. means into position to cut the floats located adjacent to opposite lateral edges of the webbing comprising a feeler arm having a portion in operative engagement with the moving webbing.

15. A textile cutting machine for cutting the floats oi ladder webbing comprising, in combination, cutting means for cutting the floats; op-

erating mechanism therefor; means for moving the webbing continuously along the machine; and a feeler arm having a portion engageable by successive ladders during movement of the webbing for initiating the operation of said cutter operating mechanism.

16. A textile cutting machine for cutting the floats of ladder webbing comprising, in combination, cutting means for cutting the floats; op-

erating mechanism therefor; means for moving the webbing continuously for engagement of the floats by the cutting means; and a feelerarm having a portion extending between the main tapes' in position to be engaged by successive cross strap sections during movement of the, webbing and displaeeable by movement of the webbing for initiating the operation of said cutter operating mechanism.

FREDERICK n. moon. 

